How would you like to create an app or site that solves health problems, understands crime patterns, or improves commerce? How would you like to better your local government or community and improve its efficiency? If you’ve got innovative ideas regarding apps which can improve the quality of life for communities or aid local governments in improving their services, then the Google Places API Developer Challenge 2012 is for you!We’re inviting developers from around the world to make something that improves their communities or governments by using the Google Places APIand its database of places and tools. The developers of the winning applications will receive a VIP experience at Google I/O 2013. We encourage all African developers to submit their entries to this challenge and win the chance to further develop their idea and aid their local communities in improving the quality of life.

The submission window for your apps has been open since August 15th and closes on the 31st of October, 2012. You can find these data sets and more on the Google Places API Challengesite. You can also follow updates and hangouts about the challenge on +Google Maps API.We look forward to seeing what can happen when your imagination and the Google Places API come together! Publisher: Sebastian Trzcinski-Clément, Outreach Lead, Africa & Middle East, Google.